Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthews Continues to Shine as Fans Boo Phaneuf

It’s safe to assume that the Toronto Maple Leafs are never going to stop scoring.

In their first home game at Scotiabank Arena since losing 5-3 to the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up their fifth straight win, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on a chilly Monday night.

The Maple Leafs are now 6-1-0 (2-1-0 at home, 4-0-0 on the road) and have scored 33 goals in that time (4.71 goals per game). The defense still needs to improve (23 goals allowed, 3.26 goals per game) but the Maple Leafs have gotten off to their second consecutive 6-1-0 start.

Garret Sparks’ 33 save performance (.971 SV%) brings him to 2-0-0 on the season and the team had their fifth straight four-plus goal performance. This is how teams need to perform as the season begins, using the adrenaline of being back on the ice and getting wins before the grueling grind of an 82 game season really kicks in. With all of the positives surrounding the Maple Leafs, one man is transcending all storylines so far.

Auston Matthews: Puck Detective

Auston Matthews recorded his seventh straight multi point performance last night. He is the eleventh player to score 16 points in the first seven games of a season, joining a list that includes Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, and Pat LaFontaine. Matthews had two assists last night, both of them on goals by Kasperi Kapanen, and he is off to the best start of his young career.

With 2.29 points per game, Matthews is on pace for 187 points, which is…unlikely. As nice as it would be to see him do it, he will taper off a bit and won’t be shooting at 45.5% all season. The likely scenario could see Matthews top 50 goals, he already has ten so far, and probably make a run for 100 points, which would make him the first Maple Leaf to do so since Doug Gilmour last did it during the 1993-94 season.

Wait, Who Led in Ice Time?!

Getting to the players who don’t have the number 34 on their jerseys, a stat that really jumps out from the game is who led in ice time. Travis Dermott (Yes, really) was the Maple Leafs leader in ice time with 20:12 minutes, while his partner Igor Ozhiganov finished third with 19:27 minutes. That was a great call by Mike Babcock, as the young duo performed very well. Both men looked calm with the puck, making crisp passes between themselves and not losing their focus when pressured by the Kings. Ozhiganov made a long, beautiful pass to Zach Hyman which led to Mitch Marner’s 3-1 goal and both defensemen finished with a relative Corsi above 15%. It’s about time these youngsters got a chance to shine, and they may have just played their way into a larger role on this team.

Booing Phaneuf

A quick side note before we continue, but I couldn’t help but notice that every time Dion Phaneuf touched the puck last night the crowd would boo loudly. Now I am all for this practice when it is applicable, but there was no need for Phaneuf to get that treatment. Yes, he was captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs during one of the franchise’s toughest stretches, but he showed up every night and played. He was not the player the team thought he would be, but he was the captain that tried to help lead the players in the right direction. And in the end he didn’t sign for a rival, he didn’t sit out his contract, he was traded in a deal to shed his large salary. Leafs fans I know you like to make your own storylines about certain players, but the idea of Dion Phaneuf you have in your head is far different from reality.

Elsewhere in Leaf Land

The penalty kill once again looked solid, going three for three and preventing the Kings from scoring their first power play goal of the season. The Leafs’ PK is now sitting at 84.21%, good for ninth in the league. The team’s discipline was a little off last night, with the Leafs taking three penalties. Marner, along with his goal, took two slashing calls in the second period less than 3:30 minutes apart.

Frederick Andersen, who missed last night with a knee injury, will be back between the pipes on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although, with Sparks’ performance I think it would be smart to give Andersen off until Saturday when the Maple Leafs take on the St. Louis Blues. This would give him rest and avoid an increased potential for injury going forward.

Sure they were out shot (Again) but Sparks held the fort and the offense did more than enough for the Toronto Maple Leafs to pick up their fifth win in a row. Four straight games on the road can make you miss the confines of your home arena, and it was clear the Leafs wanted to put on a show for the home faithful as they begin a three game home stand.

Who’s Next?

The schedule doesn’t get any easier, as the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome Sidney Crosby and the Penguins to Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night.